31 May 2010

VISITING Malaysia went home empty-handed at the end of the two-day 2nd RP-Malaysia Veterans' Football Tournament that drew to a close Sunday, May 30 at the Panaad pitch of the Panaad Sports and Recreational Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Cagayan de Oro-Mizamis Oriental lost, 2-0, to Iloilo and eventually settled for third runner-up honors with Iloilo taking second runner-up honors.

Meanwhile, reigning champion Bacolod United FC settled for first runner-up honors after visiting Loyola FC of Manila nipped the Negrenses, 1-0, to take this year's title.

The annual event hosted here by Executive Village Football Club headed by businessman Rafael Lizares in cooperation with Bacolod United FC and Real Negrense FC, will be staged in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next year as announced during last Friday's managers' meeting by Tony Mariadas, publisher of Malay Mail and head of delegation of the visiting Malaysian ex-nationals.

Upcoming Game for June 1, 2010 - In the 2010 Mindanao Filipino Premier League South: Davao FA – Columbia vs. Maguindanao – Cotabato City FA / Unifruitti, 8:00am in E-park, Apokon, Tagum City. Please note that all remaining games are moved in the morning due to rain in the afternoon, which makes the pitch water logged.

GLAN, Sarangani (May 28, 2010) – Competing teams play beach football at the Coco white sand beach in Gumasa during the second day of the 5th Sarangani Bay Festival Friday, May 28. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

29 May 2010

ON June 4, President Barack Obama will congratulate members of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Real Salt Lake team for winning the league title last season.

Among those, Obama will shake hands with is Salt Lake goalkeeper and Filipino American soccer star Nick Rimando.

Rimando helped defeat the Los Angeles Galaxy’s, led by David Beckham, by saving two crucial attempts at goal during the penalty phase during the championship game to capture the MLS Cup. For his efforts, Rimando was named the 2009 MLS Cup Most Valuable Player and next week, he’ll be meeting with the leader of the free world.

The 31-year-old, 5’ 11" Rimando, a 10-year MLS veteran and two-time MLS Cup Champion, is proud to represent the Filipino community as the only known Filipino in the MLS. Rimando’s father is Filipino and his mother is Mexican.

"I just try to go out there everyday and do my job," said Rimando to Henni Espinosa of ABS-CBN. "If I can represent the Filipino community like that, then I’m happy."

28 May 2010

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines will go against 11 countries in a month-long football tournament in Manila that aims to drum up interest in the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The World Cup Pilipinas (WCP), which begins on Saturday, has drawn participants from Portugal, Ivory Coast, Sudan, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Great Britain, India and Brazil. The event runs until June 20.

The WCP will kick off with a motorcade around the CCP Grounds and Roxas Boulevard, said event organizer TJ Besa, president of the football club Sunken Garden United (SGU-FC).

Entrance is free to the 11-a-side tournament which will be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Bulwagang Ipil-Ipil grounds in Pasay City over the next 4 weekends.

There will be free football clinics for children, beginners and enthusiasts during the event. The public can also use the fields for free on all days during non-playing times.

Besa also told abs-cbnNEWS.com that the last day of the tournament will have 2 awarding ceremonies.

“Aside from the eleven-aside tournament, we’ll be holding a 7-a-side tournament as well in just one day,” he said.

On June 20, the additional 7-a-side event will be held along with the championship matches, football clinics, victory and fellowship night, and cultural festival.

The free football event is made possible by Castrol, Century Tuna, Milo 3-in-1, Nestea, Mizuno, Nestle Fruit Selection, and the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

27 May 2010

THE 2nd RP-Malaysia Veterans' Football Tournament reels off starting May 29, Saturday until May 30, Sunday at the Panaad Sports & Recreational Park pitch in Barangay Mansilingan.

The 40-above event, organized by the Executive Village Football Club headed by businessman Rafael "Junie" Lizares in cooperation with Bacolod United FC and Real Negrense FC, features the following teams: Malaysia, Bacolod United FC, Real Negrense FC, Talisay Minuluan FC, Erco-Cebu, Iloilo FA, NORFA, Dumaguete, CMOFA, Cagayan de Oro, Loyola FC, Manila, and Blue Guards FC-Manila.

The event also serves as a reunion of sorts for former Malaysia national players and their former RP national counterparts from Negros who used to play through a regular friendly annual exchange in the event dubbed as the Philippine Cup regularly staged here during the incumbency of former PFF president Ricardo "Cano" Tan as president of the Negros Occidental Football Association (Nofa) in the 1990s.

The Malaysians are being headed by former national Tony Mariadas, publisher of Malay Mail, a leading Malaysian daily published in Kuala Lumpur and a longtime friend to many Negrense football enthusiasts through the years including Tan, former PFF general secretary Edward Magallona and ex-Nofa officials Jerry Justiniani, Bebot Padilla and Amancio Ferrris, Jr., among others.

The managers's meeting is scheduled Friday at 6:00 p.m. at the Luxur's Place (formerly Convention Plaza Hotel) while opening ceremonies is scheduled on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Panaad pitch.

All matches in the two-game series are open to the public for free, organizers said.

The RP U14 training camp was held in Cebu marking the first time that a grassroots development had its training here.

PFF president Mari Martinez, who attended yesterday's presscon at the Casino Espanol, said Cebu became the target area for the training camp because they wanted to regionalize the team.

“After the team that we sent last year did not fare well in the AFC footballfest, we wanted a team which would be composed of players coming from Visayas and Mindanao as well,” Martinez said.

The team will be leaving for Malaysia on May 30.

Aside from Colina, the team will be accompanied by team manager Ricky Dakay, team coordinator Raffy Musni, loacl assistant coaches Allan Medalla and Dennis Penalosa, and team physiotherapist Iris Fortuna in Malaysia.

ALTHOUGH the RP National Boys 14-Under squad only had a short preparation for its upcoming international stint in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Festival of Football Under-14 next week in Malaysia, head coach Oliver Colina is still targeting a strong finish in the tournament.

"Our target is finishing in the middle. We only had a month and a half of training. It's not enough. This is a big challenge to my coaching career," said Colina in a press conference yesterday at the Casino Español.

Colina has been scouting the whole country to gather the best 14-Under players. He picked some of the best in the Visayas region in the selection in San Carlos City last March and went to Metro Manila and Tarlac for the Palarong Pambansa to scout for the finest from Luzon and Mindanao.

After selecting the players, Colina housed them in a training camp in Don Bosco Boys Home in Lilo-an, where they hold practices twice a day, six days a week.

"The kids are committed to the team 100 percent," he said.

From 30 players that joined the training camp, Colina picked the 22 most competent among them for the final roster.

"All the players are qualified but we need the best and we need the most-disciplined to make up the team," said Colina.

The squad includes four Cebuanos in the final line-up - Renko Gaudiel of Bright Academy, Clint Ligan of Mandaue Institute of Technology, Jose Rafael Lipardo and Pericles Dakay Jr. both from Paref-Springdale.

The Philippines will take Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Timor Leste, Australia and Vietnam from June 2 to 6.

The press conference was also graced by Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Jose Mari Martinez, who said he plans to bid for next year's AFC Festival of Football 14-Under. If PFF wins the bidding he's looking at holding it in Cebu City.

Martinez's goal is to improve the ranking of the Philippines in the following years and he believes the grassroots will help the PFF achieve its long-term goal.

PHILIPPINE Navy and Rizal Technological University became the early favorites in the ongoing Pine Cup 2010 - 2nd Baguio Open Football Tournament men's division at the Baguio Melvin Jones football grounds.

The two visiting squads romped of to an early 3-0 lead in the team standings after downing separate rivals in the two day tournament presented by the Baguio United Football Club in cooperation with the Baguio Centennial Commission, supported by City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. and the City Government.

Philippine Navy asserted its might over Saint Louis University with a two to nil victory in the first game then went on to win against defending champion Baguio United, one goal to none then scored their third victory of the day against visiting Tuguegarao Football Club, 2-0.

RTU also scored three victories with no defeat as of press time scoring a 2-0 win against Benguet State University Alumni after pulling off a 1-0 against the younger BSU varsity and a one goal to nil triumph against the African Football Club.

Home team Saint Louis University prevailed over Baguio Under 17 squad, 1-0, before scoring a draw against African FC, 1-1, to stay in the hunt for a semis berth.

Defending champion Baguio United, after a sorry 2-0 loss against the Navymen and a 2-2 draw with rival BSU Alumni, scored its first victory on a one goal to nothing against the visiting Tuguegarao FC later in the afternoon.

BSU Alumni, Tuguegarao FC and African FC are tied with one victory apiece after edging separate rivals in the 11 a side tournament single round robin contest.

BSU varsity and Baguio team Under 17 have yet to win in the contest also presented by Emergency Medical Service, BMC Forestry Corp., the Baguio police and Ganza Restaurant.

The National Open track and field championships may have to look for another venue next year following the planned rehabilitation of the football field at the Rizal Memorial stadium.

Following the conclusion of the annual event Sunday, work is expected to start immediately for the renovation of the football field to meet international standard.

That means the elimination of the field for long jump, triple jump, pole vault and throwing events.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and La Salle University have signed a memorandum of agreement for the P8-million rehabilitation of the football field.

''How can we promote football if we don't have a field that meets international standard? With the generous help of La Salle, we can now have a world-class football field,'' said PSC chairman Harry Angping who shelled out P500,000 from his own pocket for the undertaking.

22 May 2010

THE ABELLANA National School (ANS)-Pomeroy of Coach Francis Ramirez managed to place third in the 1st P'gsalabok Under 17 National Invitational Football Cup, which ended yesterday at the Andres Bonifacio College football field in Dipolog.

ANS-Pomeroy's final match against host team Dipolog ended in a scoreless draw, giving the team a total of just four points with its 1-1-1 (win-loss-draw) record.

Nevertheless, Ramirez's team became the darling of the crowd and earned praises from their opponents and tournament organizers after wowing them with their plays.

“The other teams said they learned from us. The team amazed the crowd because they were smaller than most of their foes but they were able to show them a better ball handling possession and spectacular game set-ups,” Ramirez said.

Because of this Ramirez said it was a good exposure for the team especially that this is the first out-of-town invitational tournament for his new players.

Sta. Rita was declared the champion of the tournament with its seven points owing to its 2-1 record. The team routed La Salle Iloilo, 5-1, in their final match.

PINE Cup 2010 -- The 2nd Baguio Open kicks off Saturday at Baguio Melvin Jones Football field with nine teams seeing action led by 2009 champion Baguio United Football Club.

Teams competing in the men's division will be the Benguet State University Alumni, BSU College, Saint Louis University Alumni, Baguio Team 17-under, Philippine Navy, Tuguegarao Football Club and Rizal Technological University for the two-day competition.

Tournament committee chairman Homer Alinsug said the two-day competition will be an 11 a side tournament single round robin contest.

"This is turning into one of the best-attended competitions here in years, and we hope it would inspire more of your youth to take on the world's most popular team sport," Alinsug added.

The host club has tapped Anery Candiao of Baguio United as tournament director of the blitz competitions sponsored by the Baguio Centennial Commission and supported by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., the City Government, Emergency Medical Service, BMC Forestry Corp., the Baguio police and Ganza Restaurant.

Alinsug said four equally talented teams will also see action in the women's contest led by multi-titled Baguio Ladies Football team where they will be fielding two teams while Benguet State University will also have two teams in the fold.

"The women's division will be seven aside tournament," Alinsug added.

A simple opening program will be held at Melvin Jones starting 8 a.m. with team registrations to follow suit after the opening program.

Alinsug said games will immediately start after the registration while the awarding of trophies to the age group categories champions, which were held earlier, will also be part of the opening program. (Roderick Osis)

21 May 2010

MANILA, Philippines - The Rexona-Republic Cup kicks off tomorrow at the Manila Polo Club main polo field with six teams seeing action, led by 2008 Lotto Cup champion the Makati Titans.

Other teams competing in the seven-weekend tournament, presented by Rexona and sponsored by Balls TV and organized by the Pureplay-Titans Football Alliance (PTFA), are the Caliraya FC, Salcedo FC, Legaspi FC, Loyola Agila FC, and the Urdaneta Tarsiers.

Other games will be held at the Alabang Country Club.

Opening day games pit Loyola Agila FC against the Makati Titans; the Salcedo FC against the Urdaneta Tarsiers; and the Caliraya FC against FC Legaspi, starting at 2:30 p.m.

The second set of games from 3:30 p.m. features the Salcedo FC-FC Legaspi match, the Makati Titans against the Caliraya FC, and the Urdaneta Tarsiers against Loyola Agila FC.

New Delhi: Top English manager Desmond Bulpin, widely credited with the development of Peter Crouch into a high-class striker, may be given the responsibility of coaching the All India Football Federation (AIFF) junior team to be fielded in the I-League next season.

A former coach at Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur, Bulpin is currently in charge of the Philippines national team. According to sources, national coach Bob Houghton has recommended Bulpin’s name for coaching the team to be based in Delhi.

The AIFF has recently selected 24 junior footballers who would be fielded as a club side in the I-League for a four-year period. The move, federation officials claimed, would help prepare the juniors for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers that immediately follow the 2014 World Cup. The team are likely to be kept outside the I-League relegation bracket.

“Bob is extremely keen to see Bulpin handle the junior team in the I-League,” sources said. “Both the coaches worked together in Uzbekistan for some time. Bob has high regard for Bulpin’s ability,” he added.

Bulpin, 59, served as the youth team coach at Tottenham and discovered international strikers like Crouch and Jermain Defoe.

Bulpin was on Gerry Francis’s coaching staff at Tottenham in the mid-90s when Crouch was a struggling first-year trainee. He told Crouch that one day the lanky striker would play upfront for England. He took keen interest in developing Crouch into a quality striker.

THE Under-17 football team of the Abellana National School (ANS)-Pomeroy coached by Francis Ramirez is now ready for their first assignment as the 1st P'gsalabok Under 17 National Invitational Football Cup kicks off this afternoon at the Andres Bonifacio College football field in Dipolog City.

The tournament organized by the local government of Dipolog City through the Sporting Dipag Football Club and the Andres Bonifacio Football School has invited only the best Under-17 teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

However, it could not be determined yet who among the teams from Dipolog, Sta. Rita of San Carlos City and Iligan will face ANS first as of presstime.

The team from Cagayan de Oro, which was earlier reported to be joining the competition, begged off due to budget constraints. They were instead replaced by the team from Iligan.

19 May 2010

EIGHT equally talented teams vie for top honors as the Pine Cup 2010-The 2nd Baguio Open gets underway May 22 – 23 at the Baguio Melvin Jones Football field.

Organized by the Baguio United Football Club, the two day 11 – aside men’s contest has already attracted Philippine Navy, Tugegarao Football Club and Rizal Technological University for the two day competition.

Tournament committee chairman Homer Alinsug said five local teams have already signed up for the competition and they are expecting more teams to join the tournament.

“Local teams include Benguet State University Alumni, BSU College, Saint Louis University Alumni, host Baguio United, and Baguio Team 17 under,” said Alinsug.

In the ladies division, two local teams are already assured of joining the competition led by the multi-titled Baguio Cinderellas, and Benguet State University.

“This is turning into one of the best-attended competitions here in years, and we hope it would inspire more of your youth to take on the world’s most popular team sport,” Alinsug added.

The host club has tapped Anery Candiao of Baguio United as tournament director of the blitz competitions sponsored by the Baguio Centennial Commission and supported by city mayor Reinaldo Bautista, the city government, Emergency Medical Service, BMC Forestry Corp., the Baguio police and Ganza Restaurant.

Entry fee for the each team shall be P3,000 for the men’s and ladies open with a single round robin format. Interested teams may still contact the organizers at baguiounited@gmail.com or call 09176246637. (Roderick Osis)

13 May 2010

This is to inform all Clubs of the final decision of the Executive Committee on the treatment of all matches played by Mendiola FC. The Execuitve Committee decided based on the recommendation of the Technical Committee and FIFA rules that read:

1. If a club defaults a second match, it shall be fined Twenty Thousand Pesos Philippine Currency (P20,000.00) and may be expelled from the tournament by the ExCom. In such a case, all the succeeding matches of the expelled club shall be awarded to the opposition as in a defaulted game.

2. The guilty team be excluded from further participation in the competition so that none of its matches will be deemed valid.

3. Should it be necessary to award a match to an opposing club, three (3) points shall be awarded with a score of 3 – 0 or possibly more if the score at the time of stoppage shows a greater number of goals for the team declared the winner.

With regards to players suspended in matches that were scheduled against Mendiola FC, we would like to remind all Clubs that Article 19, Section 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code reads:

“If the suspension is to be served in terms of matches, only those matches actually played count towards execution of the suspension. If a match is abandoned, cancelled or forfeited, suspension is only considered to have been served if the team to which the suspended player belongs is not responsible for the facts that led to the abandonment, cancellation or forfeit of the match.”

The Pine Cup 2010, the 2nd Baguio Open hatched by the Baguio United Football Club will open Thursday with some 35 teams competing in seven age divisions at the Burnham Park football grounds.

The multi-titled Baguio Cinderellas, the team that, for almost two decades, dominated the national women’s side of the world’s most popular sports event, will power the local campaign against visiting squads from as far as Cebu and Masbate.

Tournament committee chair and lawyer Homer Alinsug said as of Friday, those who have signed up include African United, Xavier School of Manila, Navy Football Club, Pampanga, Benguet State University, and host Baguio United.

Pending confirmation as of press time were teams from Tarlac, Uminggan, Pangasinan State University, Laguna, Manaoag, and Agoo.

“This is turning into one of the best-attended competitions here in years, and we hope it would inspire more of your youth to take on the world’s most popular team sport,” Alinsug said.

BUFC president Arnold Jimenez said the seven-day competitions will open with the boys 21 and under, boys 17 and under, boys and girls 14 and under, boys 11 and under, mixed 9 and under, and mixed 7 and under.

Play will peak on May 22 and 23 with the men’s and ladies’ opens under the 11-a-side format, although playing time is reduced to 45 minutes or even less without half-time to accommodate all entries. The same rules apply to the lower age divisions, except in the mixed 9 and under and 7 and under, with each game to be played seven-a-side from 12 to 15 minutes in the eliminations and two halves of 15 to 30 minutes each in the final.

Soccer Fiesta, as produced by Real Sports Authority (by one of my bestest friends Rely San Agustin), was a smashing success. For three weeks, Soccer Fiesta set up in the atrium or skating rink of SM Malls -- Mall of Asia, Megamall, and the Block -- where RSA mounted skills challenges and had other football stuff on display to help promote the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where Castrol is a major sponsor. Ed Mallari, former national team player won the Castrol Skills Challenge over a bunch of competitors and for his prize, he will be watching the 2010 World Cup finals in Johannesburg. Have a fun trip, Eddie!

"The course involved theory and practical sessions on the role of the coach, planning a coaching session, coordination/ball feeling / dribbling and fun games, nutrition and hydration, skills training, laws of the game, basic goal keeping, attacking, and defending play," Protacio said in an e-mail sent to this writer Friday.

Protacio said participants who passed will qualify to the AFC "C" License Course that is "more rigorous and demanding both in theory and practice."

The certificates were awarded by DFA president Rafael "Pops" Vilela and Protacio during the victory party for the champion Davraa team and the women's U-19 and U-14 teams that participated in the National Women's Selection Tournament held recently in Bacolod City. (MLSA)

With Mendiola E-Games defaulting their May 2 match just a week after walking out at half-time against Air Force Rider, it has been decided by the UFL Technical Committee that the club’s unacceptable behavior be sanctioned with expulsion from the League with immediate effect.

All subsequent matches of Mendiola E-Games will be defaulted, automatically handing their opponents 3-0 victories.

05 May 2010

For the first time, the city will host the Mindanao Football Invitational Premiere Cup which is expected to heat up this summer's sports season once it opens on May 28 at the Energy Park of Apokon this city. This will culminate on May 30.

The football cup offers a fresh approach to youth development that incorporates best practices of football games wherein youth and children's learning is given top priority.

Kilusang Magkaibigan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KMMPC) and the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa), meanwhile, forfeited both their matches as both teams lacked the required number of players during the match.

Columbia had beaten Davraa, 4-2, while Medvil won by default over KMMPC on April 25.

DFA general secretary Erwin Protacio on Tuesday said the semifinal round will kick off on May 16.

Number 2 Columbia, which totes a three-win, zero-draw and two-loss record, will test the mettle of No. 3 Medvil (3-0-2) while No. 1 Hooligans (4-0-1) will clash against No. 4 Seagull/Porky's Lechon (1-2-2).

The triumphant Davao Region secondary boys football team that won the 2010 Palarong Pambansa title, meanwhile, was set to hold its victory party at the Tionko grounds last night. (MLSA)

Sunday’s round of action turned out to be a significant one in the inaugural season of the UFL, with Air Force Rider succeeding in regaining the advantage in the title race, thanks to Loyola ATR KimEng. Carlo Rodriguez’s side proved their mastery of the 1-0 win, as they scored early and shut out Kaya Digiprint, in a fiery affair that saw coaching staff sent off.

The day’s First Division action started in an anti-climatic fashion, with Army Phiten winning by default, against a troubled Mendiola E-Games side that only had enough players for a basketball team. It is truly anxious times for all the supporters of the San Beda-based club.

02 May 2010

Doraemon, formerly known as Crazy Horse, added the Cebu Amateur Football Club (CAFC)-10th National Interclub Invitational tournament title to its hoard after a tough 4-3 win over CAFC, yesterday at the San Roque Parish field.

CAFC got the lead, twice, and even had two penalties but couldn’t pull through against Doraemon, the reigning Aboitiz Men’s Open champion.

Mitsu Tsunakiri scored the first goal in the 12th for Doraemon, but Junard Aguilar equalized four minutes later.

Julius Acre, who won the Best Midfielder award, put CAFC ahead for the first time in the 23rd.

Former RP team member Robert Cañedo leveled the match in the 50th but Aguilar spoiled it again three minutes later for 3-2.

Epifanio Ynot leveled the match in the 67th before Masahiko Ayabe got the lead in the 75th.

Doraemon keeper Alex Boanghog, who saved two penalties, was named the Best Keeper and MVP, while Albert Nangkil got the Best Defender award. Joshua Fegidero went scoreless yesterday but his 12 goals against Count FC was enough to earn him the Golden Boot award.

Meanwhile, seven years after picking up the sport, the boys of M. Lhuillier Canduman are still picking up trophies.

Now playing for Mandaue Technical Institute, Coach Jun Santillan and his boys added the 14-Under with a 1-0 win over Sacred Heart School-Jesuits (SHS-J) in the finals yesterday at San Roque Parish field.

Individual awards

James Andrew Duaz showed skills beyond his age as he controlled the cross with his chest before rushing past the defender for the lone goal 15 minutes into the second half.

Both finalists also split the individual awards. MTI’s Jaybee Malianao was named best keeper, while Dexter John Espiritu got the Best Midfielder award.

Darren Ramos and Miguel Kwan of SHS-J won the Best Defender and Golden Boot award.

In the 17-Under finals, Colegio de Sta. Rita took advantage of a momentary lapse of judgment by the Abellana National School-Pomeroy defense for a close 1-0 win.Marvin Contivedo stripped an ANS defender, who struggled to clear the ball, and hit a lob past the keeper from 30 yards 15 minutes into the match.

“Di gyud to para amo,” said ANS coach Francis Ramirez.

Prince Anthony’s free kick kissed the bar in the first half, while another attempt by Dan Villarico also went wide.

THE Wesnecans were in familiar territory again last weekend as the West Negros University men’s varsity football team emerged as winner of the centerpiece men’s contest in the event that drew the participation of 80 age group club teams from various parts of the country.

The two-day weekend event hosted by the Executive Village Football Club, headed by Rafael Lizares in cooperation with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), drew the participation of club teams from as far as Davao and Manila and was staged at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College in Talisay City.

Other club teams posting wins were Victory Army Football Club, which took both the 13-Under boys and girls plums.

Top teams Doraemon and Cebu Amateur Football Club (CAFC) scored identical 2-0 wins in the semifinals yesterday to meet in the finals of the CAFC 10th Interclub Invitational Tournament.

The Men’s Open final will be at 3:30 p.m. at the San Roque Parish field, after the finals for the 14- and 17-Under and the 38-above divisions.

In the first semis game, Doraemon struggled to break the methodical University of San Jose-Recoletos apart before prevailing, 2-0.

Lemuel Unabia scored the first goal in the 68th, while the prolific Joshua Fegidero, who scored 12 against Count FC, banged in the insurance goal in injury time.

In the second game, the hobbled FC Inter Cebu, playing without starting keeper Benjamin Sanchez and Jack Reston, got ahead early in the seventh.

Midfielder Julius Acre won a goal-mouth scramble and banged in the first goal, before former University of the Visayas teammate Martin Bontia made it 2-0 in the 71st.

Today, CAFC will be in full force as both Sanchez and Reston have served their one-game suspension.

It will be their second game since a 1-1 draw, with Fegidero scoring the equalizer two minutes from time, during the elimination round last Sunday.

The top teams in the 17-Under division also advanced to the finals after shutout wins in the semifinals yesterday.

Abellana National School-Pomeroy of Francis Ramirez was the first to advance with a 3-0 rout of Sacred Heart School-Jesuits, in the morning game, while Colegio de Sta. Rita needed a shootout to beat Don Bosco College, 4-0.

In the first game, John Ray Nieves struck first in the 23rd for a 1-0 half time lead, before Dan Villarico connected 14 minutes into the second half for 2-0.

Del Monte Football Club (DMFC) in cooperation with Bukidnon Football Association (BUFA) invites you to participate in the 6th Del Monte Football Cup ‘10. This annual tournament aims to instill to our young the ideals of teamwork, camaraderie, discipline and sportsmanship. The competition will also be a good test on the skills of your kids all the while creating beautiful moments of friendship. Our venue offerBukidnon breezes of fresh air while keeping the temperatures pleasant and playing conditions excellent.

The 6th Del Monte Football Cup ‘10 will be on the 21st (Friday) and 22nd (Saturday) of May 2010 at the Camp Phillips Football Grounds.

Our staff of experienced tournament organizers has dedicated themselves to ensuring an enjoyable experience for you and your team. Our goal is to host the most competitive tournament in Bukidnon. No team has the luxury to have a bad game, the competition is just tough!

Let us be One world for One game! Play with different teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao on the 6th Del Monte Cup ’10 this summer.To guarantee your teams' participation in the tournament, completely fill out and return the attached entry and registration forms on or before May 07, 2010.

If you have any questions regarding the tournament and updates, please contact Barny Abarcas at barnz0512@yahoo.com or delmontefootball@yahoo.com. And may visit us @http:\\profiles.friendster.com\delmontefootball for more updates of the tournament. You may also contact Joie Gaid at 0917-718-3337.

VICTORY Army, Domingo Lacson National High School (DLNHS), and La Carlota City age-group football standouts took center stage at the end of Friday's hostilities in the 2010 National 7-Aside Age-Group Football Championship.

The event was staged at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College of Talisay City and hosted by the Executive Village Football Club headed by Rafael Lizares in cooperation with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) represented here by general secretary Cyril Dofitas.

THE Abellana National School (ANS)-Pomeroy slipped past Don Bosco College, 3-1, to finish No. 1 in the bracket in the 17-Under division of the Cebu Amateur Football Club (CAFC) 10th National Interclub Invitational Tournament at the University of San Carlos-Technological Center field.

ANS Pomeroy finished undefeated in three matches and will next face Sacred Heart School-Jesuits (SHS-J) in the semifinals today.

The other semis will pit Colegio del Sta. Rita, which ousted Paref-Springdale, 3-1, against DBC.

With USC already out in the running in the Men’s Open, Prince Anthony suited up for Francis Ramirez’s squad and his presence help create scoring opportunities for ANS Pomeroy.

John Melgo struck first in the 13th and Rogelio Castellon doubled the lead in the 25th.

Melgo banged in his second in the 63rd before DBC finally got to score with Junjauy Arrizabal’s goal in the 70th.

In the other game, Springdale scored first but failed to hold on to its lead.

John Andrew Amigo struck four minutes into the match before John Shale Ponsico evened the count in the 11th.

Elton John de Arce gave the visitors the lead in the 59th and Diomar Caruscay scored the insurance goal in the 70th to hand Springdale its second loss of the tournament.

Red card

In the Men’s Open, CAFC will be playing minus keeper Benjamin Sanchez and defender Jack Reston against FC Inter Cebu in the semis today.

CAFC defeated the University of San Jose-Recoletos, 2-1, on goals by Arnie Pasinabo but it came costly after keeper Sanchez was red-carded for violent play.

Sanchez brought down a USJ-R striker in a one-on-one, while Reston, who already has one yellow, was cautioned for rough play early in the match.

In the second game, FC Inter Cebu rested its key players and lost to Doraemon, 8-0.

Mitsu Tsunakiri and Epifanio Ynot had three goals each for Doraemon, which will take on USJ-R today in the semis.